BEST TVWinner: Quebec Government '
Born a Girl' - LG2, Quebec. This was my winner for TV. Support for a positive and inclusive message at the government level is impressive. Well done Canada. The US could use a little more compassion.
Runner up: Spark '
Play' - Colenso BBDO, Auckland. The runner up was a close call between the Sky Sports commercial (great talent in the young boy streaking) and this, Spark Play. Ultimately the simplicity and quality performance by the young boy in Spark Play, and the positive message overall, added up to a more polished commercial. Well done.
BEST PRINTWinner: Durex & NZ AIDS Foundation '
Better Safe Than Syphy: Thrice-way' - FCB New Zealand. Durex is my winner. Simple, smart and funny. Nice work. Copy, art direction and the product benefit all in harmony.
Runner up: Ford '
Top of the mountain' - LCT. This was a cool angle and use of the car's iconic front badging. I didn't think it needed a headline but it was a well-made print ad and worthy runner up.
BEST OUTDOOR Winner: Furious Fur '
Faux Sale' - Zulu Alpha Kilo, Toronto. I liked this for its simplicity, efficiency and making people think at the right moment. As holidays ramp up everyone's spending, it's a well timed moment for this message.
Runner up: Garde-Manger Pour Tous '
Help Us Fill the Emptiness' - Cossette Montréal. I liked it for being thoughtful, utilizing cultural cues to help people think bigger than themselves during the holidays. The union on child poverty and gifts is smart as it's a time of year when the separation between the have and the have nots is really glaring.
BEST INTERACTIVEWinner: Durex & NZ AIDS Foundation '
Better Safe Than Syphy: Grindr' - FCB New Zealand. A winner because it does a nice job of achieving a lot of personality with you quickly. Simple, with a sense of humour.
Runner up: Inclusive Australia '
Somebody Different' - Thinkerbell. There's real truth in the compounding influence of following the same people and the same points of view. This was super simple and anything that breaks that algorithm and exposes us to different, impressive people daily is a positive thing.
This week's guest judge is John McKelvey, founder and chief creative officer of
Mirimar in New York and Los Angeles.
John McKelvey is an Emmy award-winning writer, founder and chief creative officer of Mirimar Creative Group - Los Angeles and New York. Mirimar creates cultural impact for brands at the intersection of advertising, entertainment, and technology. John McKelvey was previously co-founder of JohnXHannes. Under John's leadership it was named AdAge's U.S. Small Agency of the Year in 2019 and 2018 - Top 10 World's Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company - and awarded #3 Worldwide Independent Agency at the Cannes Lions.
Throughout his career working in the U.S, Europe and Australasia, John McKelvey has partnered with the world's leading brands, athletes and celebrities to tell authentic stories in culture. Including Apple, Beats By Dre, Nike, Under Armour, Google, Squarespace, Expensify and Montefiore. His recent work includes
Expensify Th!$ the world's first music video you can expense with rapper 2 Chainz, the feature film "
Corazon" a Tribeca Film Festival finalist that won the Cannes Lions Grand Prix and partnering with
John Malkovich and Squarespace. McKelvey's work has been awarded the highest industry accolades for both creativity and effectiveness, including an Emmy, multiple Cannes Grand Prix, Webby Awards, Best of Show at The One Show, D&AD and Gold Effies. As featured in the New York Times, Time Magazine, Vanity Fair, Vogue, Wall Street Journal, and on CNN, ABC, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
John McKelvey has been honored by the United Nations and ranked number one Creative Director on the One Club's rankings in the U.S. He's also recently judged the Cannes Lions festival and delivered the keynote speech at Princeton University's media summit.
